Höhlenweg

10.00 km long

Round trip

Difficulty: easy

Regional hiking trail

Waldweg bei Schlangen mit Laubbäumen und Bank, umgeben von grüner Wiese und weitem Ausblick. — CC-BY-SA | Gemeinde Schlangen

2:47 h
10.00 km
175 m
171 m
333 m
442 m
109 m
Start: Bauerkamp hiking parking lot, Bauerkamp 1, 33189 Schlangen
Destination: Bauerkamp hiking parking lot, Bauerkamp 1, 33189 Schlangen

The cave trail near Schlangen in the Teutoburg Forest is a varied circular hike that will delight nature and history enthusiasts alike. The route leads through dense beech forest, past impressive limestone formations and to geological features such as the Bielstein Gorge, the Bielstein Cave and the legendary Lukenloch.

The hike begins at the Bauerkamp parking lot and first runs through a near-natural beech forest. The path then leads down into the Bielstein Gorge, a limestone gorge about 300 meters long and up to 15 meters deep. The gorge shows typical geological formations of the Teutoburg Forest, including steep limestone walls and boulder fields. Evidence of early use of the area can be found in the gorge, presumably as a shelter or settlement site.

At the end of the gorge is the Bielstein Cave, which is around 42 meters long. It is designated as a ground monument and serves as a winter home for bat species such as the greater mouse-eared bat and the pond bat. Entering the cave is prohibited for nature conservation reasons.

A little further on is the Lukenloch, a 26-metre deep, funnel-shaped limestone cave that was created by limestone dissolution and erosion.

The way back leads past the Hohlsteinhöhle, which is up to 50 meters high. The cave is also not accessible, but can be viewed from the outside. The entire way back is along forest and meadow paths that showcase the natural surroundings of the Teutoburg Forest.

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather